The Skull Decimator is a roller coaster designed by the fourteenth Chosen One. An engineer and thrill seeker, known to have little interest in saving the world.
He brought many sports and inventions to the elven world of extreme natures, such as snowboarding, skateboarding, bungee jumping, and free climbing.
He also had a passion for theme parks, and his student, Gardonza Bell, took up his legacy, hosting the Ela Lunaris festival with his inventions, and thanks to the elves' magical power, constructing and deconstructing the rides is a cinch.
Although this is where this ride originated, these contraptions can be ridden year-round at the theme parks within Moon's Rise.
A place the fourteenth not only loved, but considered his home.
(A quote lay below the writing)
"The town of pleasure is a perfect description. Moon's Rise is everything any being from any universe can love! Even when I am gone, I hope that you enjoy my rides for generations to come! Feeling close to death is the only way to live!"
Written on a bronze colored plaque outside the Skull Decimator queue.
-----------------------
A fiery determination was sparked within Gwyn, and maybe Artero as well.
He wanted the Chosen One all to himself. He'd be damned if Elise would win without any resistance at all.
There was one slight issue.
"You lost again!" The carney game master shouted jubilantly. He raised his catalyst far above his head, which looked like a toy magical wand.
Artero nearly curled into a ball, defeated as Elise now held… several prizes.
"What's the matter, Artero?" Elise gloated. "I thought you had this one? How come you missed every shot?"
Artero stood up and pointed a gloved hand at the carney.
"These games are rigged, I tell you. Rigged!"
"Hey, hey Buddy. She seems to be winning prizes just fine." He pointed to Elise. "Now scram! You're blocking the next customer."
A child held a giant stuffed wabbajack.
"I'm gonna play this game until I pee!"
"Hey, that's the kid!"
Elise lunged at the child, but a strong arm forced her to a stop, pulling her to the side.
A deep voice bellowed.
"What do you think you two are doing?"
Elise turned her head to see who was speaking, and it was a large man in a bright pink kimono. His brown hair was slicked back, and his mustache was neatly combed. Elise shrank before the towering figure.
"I'm sorry, sir… Do I know you?"
"Oh, you don't remember me, huh? Maybe this will jog your memory…"
He unsheathed his massive sword.
"Wrap these two in chains!
A clap, then snap, they'll be detained.
Hang them from this frame.
Until they know my pain!"
A seven-rhyme four-line spell. Truthfully, Rodrick could've held back. He could've also done more. But he wanted to make sure they didn't escape.
Immediately, Elise and Artero were chained together. Their faces smushed together, cheek to cheek.
They hung upside down from the carnival tent that Artero kept "donating" his gold to.
"Hey Buddy! This is bad for business."
He handed the booth operator a small pouch of gold.
"Let me have this."
The man eagerly nodded.
"Whatever you say..." He quickly stuffed the pouch into his pocket and rebranded his sign to something more appropriate. "Who wants to play 'Hit the Idiots'!"
"R-R-Rodrick! My loyal knight!"
"You're on thin ice, Young Master."
The young child who peed on Elise earlier stepped up to the stand and began throwing several tomato-shaped objects at the royals.
"I'm sorry, did I miss something?" Gwyn asked, confused about what was going on.
Elise pleaded.
"I'm sorry, Rodrick! We were desperate!"
"You could've just asked where Gwyn had gone, ya idiots! Not put me to sleep! I've already missed half the festival!"
"They told me you took a nap."
He glared in their direction.
"Is that what they told you..."
He grabbed a tomato and tossed it at them, hitting Artero square in the face.
After a few people threw objects at the Royals, Rodrick released the spell on them. They pathetically crawled over to Rodrick, covered in red juice and vegetable remnants.
"Now what do we say?"
"Sorry for ambushing you and putting you to sleep." They said simultaneously.
Rodrick wore a confused expression.
"Were you rehearsing what you'd say to me?"
"No!" They both shouted.
A smirk crossed his lips, as did Gwyn.
They both cleaned themselves up with magic, then promptly stepped away from each other. Being so close to one another, feeling their skin touch. Was something they both missed but didn't admit to.
Also, the part about being hit with tomatoes didn't help the situation either.
"W-w-well! Now that I am freed, I have a competition to win!"
Artero stormed off in the opposite direction.
When Elise was freed, the prizes she already won had mysteriously disappeared. She looked left and right and noticed the small child from earlier carrying all her prizes away. Elise rolled up a sleeve and started to stomp towards him whenever Rodrick put a hand on her shoulder.
"Consider us even."
Elise pouted.
"But my prizes…"
"Well, now that you're here. Are you here to play some games with us?" Gwyn asked Rodrick excitedly.
"Actually, I'm trying to get me some good ol' carnival food." He patted his stomach. "I haven't eaten all day!"
"I guess I'm pretty hungry too," Gwyn said, realizing she hadn't eaten yet either. She placed a consoling hand on Elise's shoulder. "You can always win more prizes. Plus, look at who you are facing off against."
Both women glanced over to the prince, who was trying his hand at "Throw the Ball into the Tiny Canister" (patent pending).
The ball chaotically bounced off every time he threw it, a look of determination in his eyes. He lined up the shot and missed the canisters, which seemed to be barely wide enough for the ball itself.
"Are you even aiming, Young Master?" Rodrick commented.
"This is a scam!" Artero shouted.
"Dude, I just watched you miss completely, like three times in a row," Gwyn said.
"What do you mean?" Artero looked puzzled. "Is the objective not to throw the ball on the ground?"
"No?" Gwyn looked at Elise, who was already onto her next victory, acquiring another large stuffed animal.
"Young Master," Rodrick pulled Artero aside. "You're terrible at carnival games. Stick to something else."
"But you don't know what's at stake!" Artero shouted desperately, clinging to Rodrick's kimono. Artero turned his head and saw Elise to the side, taking a large stuffed animal as her prize. "She's already gotten one! Rodrick, you have to help meeeeeeeeee!"
"You get what you deserve, Young Master." He put a consoling hand on Artero's shoulder. "You have to fight some battles yourself."
A second large stuffed animal entered Elise's grasp. If this continued, she would win the competition. Rodrick and Gwyn walked off to get some food while Artero looked for the next game he could play.
~
Elise carried two very large stuffed animals.
"Wait up, you two!"
"Are you winning, Elise?" Rodrick asked.
Elise gave an exuberant nod.
"Oh yeah, Artero doesn't stand a chance."
Rodrick made a face as though he fully understood the situation.
"What are you playing for?"
"Whoever wins the most prizes gets to stay with Gwyn tonight."
Rodrick let out a soft laugh.
"I see what has him so worked up now."
"Why is that?" Gwyn asked.
"Oh, you don't know?" Rodrick asked pointedly.
Gwyn looked concerned.
"Know what?"
"The Ela Lunaris festival is a time for celebration, obviously." He gestured all around him. "But for a long time now, it is said that if you are successful in procreation after the Ela Lunaris festival, your children will be powerful casters!"
"Procreation?"
"Oh, yes, Madam. Look around."
Gwyn gazed at the people around her. Only now did she see past the people in costumes and kimonos and realize many were dancing, rubbing up against one another. Kissing as they slow danced. Her face flushed, and only now did she notice the soft lighting illuminating the festival as day turned to night.
The soft, peaceful music played.
It was overwhelmingly romantic.
"I had no—"
"You know, I was conceived during the Ela Lunaris festival." Rodrick flexed and ripped the sleeves of his kimono. "That's why I am so powerful!"
"Wait… does that mean it's your birthday?" Gwyn asked.
"It is! Well… as well as a lot of other people. Young Master was also conceived today."
"Him too?!" Gwyn shouted. "Well—we have to celebrate!"
"We are celebrating, Madam. Let's get some food. All this talking of sexual intercourse is making me hungry."
Gwyn laughed and noticed Elise was looking awfully shy.
"What's wrong, Elise?"
Gwyn didn't have to ask this question. Her expression said it all.
The Sylvian Princess didn't make eye contact as she responded.
"Oh, nothing."
~
"Buddy, you're gonna have to leave if you're gonna be makin' a scene," The burly carnival attendant said to Artero.
"Sir! You don't understand what this means to me!"
The Kosmairian Prince clawed desperately at the attendant's heels.
The attendant had to resist the urge to put his boot on his face. He settled for shaking his head.
"Three gold. Pay up, or you can't play!"
"That kid told me this game has the highest odds of winning!"
Artero pointed into the crowd. The child who seemed to be everywhere, joyfully carrying about fifteen different stuffed animals, now. He even had duplicates, despite Artero's best efforts, the child wouldn't sell him one. Well. He gave the child five gold coins. The kid just took them, and Artero received nothing in return, leaving him even further behind.
Artero held the man desperately. All of his princely charm evaporated.
"I've already spent all my money!"
The attendant crossed his arms.
"I don't see how that's my problem."
"I'll be back, I promise!"
Artero ran off into the crowds, trying to return home, where he had the funds to play more games.
~
Gwyn was eating some sort of animal on a stick.
"I'm surprised you didn't get peach pie."
What that animal was supposed to be, Gwyn wasn't sure. But its charred skin gave it an immaculate grilled flavor, while its meat was tender and juicy with a subtle citrus flavor.
"We're always eating green leaf," Rodrick said, digging into a sandwich that appeared to be brisket. "The Great Gardonza spent a hundred years preparing for this event!"
Gardonza?
Gwyn had already forgotten the name of the curator of the Ela Lunaris festival, despite Elise bringing her up in about a dozen conversations by now.
"What about you, Elise?"
The Sylvian Princess stared wistfully in the distance whenever Gwyn asked her something.
But something was stirring within Elise. She just couldn't tell what.